Thank you, Zero Waste champion Roy Alvarez

The officers, members and staff of the EcoWaste Coalition express sadness for the untimely departure of Roy Alvarez, our former president (2010-2012), whom we hold in high esteem for his animated commitment to the pursuit of Zero Waste, a vision of a restored ecological order where nothing is wasted dumped or burned. As Zero Waste champion, Roy traveled across the country to propagate the values of “waste not, dump not, burn not” in countless community and school gatherings and to spread respect and love for Mother Earth.

With his powerful voice and creative presence, Roy contributed in many ways to our quest for a litter-free and Zero Waste nation. He once led us in a parade in Quiapo urging the people to use the native bayong and drop the plastic-bag habit. In one event, he stood in silence in front of the Quiapo Church, along with the women of Buklod Tao, holding a miniature image of the Black Nazarene to seek public support for a garbage-free fiesta.

Wearing an “AlerToxic Patrol” shirt, Roy spoke with Chinese drug store owners and sellers in Binondo to urge them not to sell illegal skin whitening products laden with mercury. On three occasions, he spoke before hundreds of young students at Claret School, Kamuning Elementary School and Marcelo H. del Pilar Elementary School in Quezon City to persuade them to usher in the New Year sans injurious and polluting firecrackers. And with actress Chin Chin Gutierrez, Roy pushed a wooden cart carrying an image of an ailing Mother Earth in an unprecedented march to the Commission on Human Rights to exhort it to uphold the Filipino people’s right to be protected against harmful chemicals and wastes.

As we honor the memory of Roy, a gem in the Zero Waste movement, we pray for the eternal repose of his soul and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his loving wife Nieves and daughter Miren for their loss.

Thank you, Roy!

—AILEEN LUCERO,

national coordinator,

EcoWaste Coalition, Unit 329,

Eagle Court, 26 Matalino St., QC

[email protected]